PROMISE OF A NEW BEGINNING

Promise of a New Beginning

Dania, then 5, Adolfo, 6, and Sofia, 8, arrived at an orphanage in Honduras. All were malnourished and the oldest brother showed signs of delayed motor skills, including impaired language development. Sadly, no one ever came to visit the boys.

The Orphan Institute’s Child Defender Team assumed responsibility for the brothers. With no visitors and limited biographical information, social workers sought to identify parents or other known relatives. Regrettably, none were found.

Speaking on behalf of the children, a lawyer from the Orphan Institute represented the brothers throughout the legal proceedings within the juvenile court. A judge declared these children abandoned, a necessary first step to legally providing a child with the opportunity to leave the orphanage and become part of a family.

The children's files were now complete. THREE YEARS after arriving to IHNFA, the brothers’ cases were submitted to the IHNFA adoption department.

ONE YEAR LATER, the government approved a foreign family to adopt all three brothers, Dania, now 9, Adolfo, 10, and Sofia, 12. The adoptive family arrived in Honduras only to find after their first week there, the biological parents came forward requesting an appeal to the judge’s decision of declaring these brothers abandoned.

Although this was the first time in four years the biological parents had inquired of their children, the government asked the Orphan Institute to evaluate if reunification with the birth family was possible before the adoption would proceed.

After extensive investigative research on behalf of the Orphan Institute’s social workers, the parents were found. Sadly, they lived in deplorable conditions unable to care or provide for themselves let alone their children. The parents had no place to live and demonstrated an inability to communicate coherently or effectively. Those living nearby identified the father as one who consumed excessive amounts of alcohol and used illegal drugs. He often searched the nearby landfill for plastics and cans to sell as a source of income. In addition to the three boys at IHNFA, the mother had two little girls in her care both under the age of 2 along with two additional boys older than Sofia, now 12, whose whereabouts were unknown. Generous strangers would often provide food for the two young babies, whose bottles were visibly attracting flies and bodies in need of adequate clothing.

Upon completion of the investigation, the information was provided to IHNFA, recommending the best interest for these brothers would be care provided from a family who could provide food, clothing, shelter as well as foster their overall social and developmental well-being. Further, the findings shared additional children were at risk necessitating further action.

The courts received a copy of the findings as well, and agreed with the Orphan Institute; the adoption of the three brothers should proceed.

The Orphan Institute works to ensure the unique circumstances surrounding the life of every child are examined with his or her best interest in mind. Admittedly, the process can be long and trying. Long and trying for the children, especially, as childhoods are lost waiting for someone to speak on their behalf.

(Please Note: The children's real name has been changed to protect his/her privacy.)

LOVED BY A FAMILY

Loved by a Family

Abandoned at age 5, Melissa became one of the countless children under the care of IHNFA, the Honduran Institute for Children and Families. Melissa was initially reunited with her father two years later but subsequently removed after IHNFA’s social workers discovered her step-mother was psychologically abusive.

Melissa spent the next SEVEN years running away from the orphanage, each time being returned against her will as she longed for a family of her own. During her fourth escape from the orphanage, a family took her in as one of their own children.

By law, however, Melissa had to return to IHNFA. It was at this time, her case was given to the Orphan Institute’s Permanency Center in Honduras. Melissa was 14 years old.

Social workers and lawyers at the Permanency Center in partnership with IHFNA completed the necessary paperwork and evaluations to streamline the legal proceedings surrounding Melissa’s case. Within two years as a result of the care and expertise of the Child Defender team at the Permanency Center, Melissa entered the care of a foster family. In fact, it’s the same family who previously took care of Melissa and which one day hopes to legally adopt her as their own daughter.

Today, Melissa is in school and enjoys the affection and security provided by her family. She also receives regular visits from social workers at the Orphan Institute ensuring her continued well-being as well as that of her family.

At 16 years old, Melissa shared, “for the first time, I feel like I’m part of a real family.”

There are so many children, like Melissa, who need someone to act on their behalf. Until we act, their case remains inactive and longing for a family - a dream unfulfilled.

Ten years is simply too long for children to languish as they wait for a family to call their own. Whether it's reuniting with their own family, a foster family or an adoptive family, every child deserves a family today.

(Please Note: The child's real name has been changed to protect his/her privacy.)